Security

Encryption is the process of scrambling data into an unreadable format. It is more secure to transmit encrypted data over the Internet. In the case of the Peoples Trust Online Banking site, data is sent by your browser through an encrypted channel to our secure systems where the message is safely received.

Some browsers can create a more secure channel than others, owing to the ‘strength’ of their encryption. To safeguard your personal and financial information, we only use the strongest channel available–referred to as 128–bit SSL or Secure Socket Layer. If you have a browser that only supports ‘weaker’ encryption such as 40–bit or 56–bit SSL, you will need to upgrade your browser before using our site.

Encryption and decryption is accomplished using a complex mathematical formula called an algorithm. An encrypted message cannot be read unless you have the formula or ‘key’ to unscramble the message. The longer and more complex the ‘key’ is, the stronger the encryption. The 40 and 128 refer to the length of the key. Since 128 is longer, than 40, it is more secure.

But don’t let the relatively small difference in the size of the key fool you. According to Netscape, 128–bit encryption is trillions of times stronger than 40–bit encryption.

Just as you play a vital role in ensuring the security of your home and your possessions, you too share in the responsibility for ensuring that your personal information is adequately protected.

In order for us to ensure that only you are accessing your accounts, we need a unique way of knowing that it’s you. Just as the key to your home protects unwanted entry, the online banking “key”—your Password—ensures that only you can access your accounts.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your “key” to the Peoples Trust Online Banking site is protected. Please observe the following security practices:

• Select a password that is easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess.
• Do not select a password that is easy to guess (such as 12345) or is based on personal information (avoid your birth date, address, phone number, social insurance number, or similar information about your family or friends). Otherwise, someone who knows you can easily guess your password.
• Do not select a part of your PIN (your ATM “key”) or another password.
• Keep your password confidential.
• Do not write your password down or store it in a file on your computer.
• Never disclose your password in a voice or e-mail, and do not disclose it over the phone, especially cellular phones.
• Do not share your password with anyone else.
• Do not permit anyone to observe you typing in your password.
• Change your password on a regular basis. We suggest every 90–120 days.
• Contact Peoples Trust Company immediately if you suspect someone has gained knowledge of your password.
• Contact Peoples Trust Company immediately if you believe there are errors or omissions in your account.
• Contact Peoples Trust Company immediately if you become aware of any loss, theft, misuse, or unauthorized use.

While we have provided a secure channel for our Customers to communicate with us, once the information has reached your computer, it’s up to you to protect it. To protect your information, you should:

• Never leave your computer unattended while using our online banking services.
• Always exit the Peoples Trust Online Banking site using the logout button and close your browser if you step away from your computer. Your browser may retain information you entered in the login screen and elsewhere until you exit the browser.
• Prevent the browser from caching (storing) the pages that you view by using the Enhanced Security feature located on the Login screen.
• Secure or erase files stored on your computer by your browser so others cannot read them. Most browsers store information in non-protected (unencrypted) files in the browser’s cache to improve performance. These files remain there until erased. Using standard computer utilities or by using your browser feature to “empty” the cache, these files can be erased.
• Disable automatic password-save features in the browsers and software you use to access the Internet.
• Install and use a quality anti-virus program. As new viruses are created each and every day, be sure to update your anti-virus program often.
• Install and use a personal firewall on your computer to ensure others cannot access your computer through the Internet.
• Install new security patches, as soon as your operating system and Internet browser manufacturers make them available.

To ensure a safe and secure Internet session, only visit reputable sites. If you visit any questionable web site before Peoples Trust Online Banking, we recommend you close your browser and restart it before proceeding to Peoples Trust Online Banking.

Never include account information, including account numbers and passwords, in any online correspondence with Peoples Trust Company.

Try to avoid accessing your accounts at a public computer (i.e. a library or at a friend’s house) as some computers may allow subsequent users to access your account information.

When a person pretends to be someone they’re not so they can trick you into revealing personal information it’s called Phishing. Commonly done via email, phone or text, the message will ask you to confirm personal information. You should always be wary of any communication that asks you to provide confidential information.  Peoples Trust will never ask you to confirm personal information unless you telephone us and ask us questions pertaining to your accounts. Peoples Trust also does not communicate with clients via text message.

We ensure your personal and financial information is protected within our Peoples Trust Online Banking banking service, financial systems, and databases.

We ensure your personal and financial information is protected while in transit between your computer and our server through the use of industry standard security techniques which include Secure Socket Layers (SSL) and encryption.

Encryption ensures that information in transit between your computer and our server cannot be read (private and confidential) or changed (integrity).

We ensure that only individuals who provide the correct password can access your account information.

We will NEVER ask you for any account or personal information via e-mail or text.

For more information on the specific policies and practices that we use to safeguard your personal and financial information, please click here to view our Privacy Statement.